Title: John M. Liu collection of Orange County Chinese American photographs

Identifier/Call Number: MS.R.151

Contributing Institution:
Special Collections and Archives, University of California, Irvine Libraries

Language of Material:
English

Physical Description:
1.8 Linear feet
(2 boxes.)

Date (inclusive): 1900-1992

Abstract: John M. Liu was a professor in the Comparative Culture program at the University of California, Irvine and chair of the Chinese
American Council of the Historical and Cultural Foundation in 1992 when he curated an exhibit of historical photographs depicting
the experiences of Chinese Americans in Orange County. The collection includes mounted photographs, captions, and a compact
disc (CD) with exhibit information and captions.

Creator:
Liu, John M.

Processing History

Processed by Audra Eagle Yun, 2011.

Acquisition Information

Gift of John M. Liu, October 2011.

Preferred Citation

John M. Liu Collection of Orange County Chinese American Photographs. MS-R151. Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine
Libraries, Irvine, California. Date accessed.

For the benefit of current and future researchers, please cite any additional information about sources consulted in this
collection, including permanent URLs, item or folder descriptions, and box/folder locations.

Publication Rights

Property rights reside with the University of California. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and
their heirs. Some of these materials are in the public domain. For permissions to reproduce or to publish, please contact
the Head of Special Collections and Archives.

Access

The collection is open for research.

Historical Background

The Historical and Cultural Foundation of Orange County (California) was founded by Linda Leung Lau in 1985 to promote understanding
of ethnic heritage and arts through exhibits and other events. John M. Liu was a professor in the Comparative Culture program
at the University of California, Irvine and chair of the Chinese American Council of the Historical and Cultural Foundation
in 1992 when he curated an exhibit of historical photographs depicting the experiences of Chinese Americans in Orange County.
Assisted by Rose Cheung and Patricia Lin, Liu presented the exhibit at the 1992 Kaleidoscope Festival in Irvine, California.
John M. Liu is currently a senior lecturer at the University of California, Irvine.

Collection Scope and Content Summary

In 1992, John M. Liu curated an exhibit of historical photographs depicting the experiences of Chinese Americans in Orange
County. The exhibit photographs were duplicated from the Elizabeth Shultz Collection of the Anaheim Public Library, the First
American Title Insurance Company, and from the family albums of Marcus Gih, Fred Lau, Linda Lau, Margaret Lew, Pamela Tom,
Amy Wong, David Wong, and May Wong. The exhibit was broadly divided into three sections: the early years of immigration from
1870-1900, the transition years from 1901-1945, and the contemporary years from 1946-1992. The collection includes mounted
photographs, captions, and a compact disc (CD) with exhibit information and captions.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in five series, reflecting the original themes of the exhibit:

Series 1. Entering

Series 2. Agriculture

Series 3. Merchants

Series 4. Other

Series 5. Modern

When received, the collection was not arranged. The processor re-established order by arranging the photographs according
to the exhibit caption list included with the collection, which was broken into five themes. Exhibit caption boards were placed
together in a separate folder.